The Pittsburgh Penguins are doing all right without their second-line center, thanks in part to Sidney Crosby scoring 12 points in his last four games. That maybe plays a part in why the team is being cautious with Evgeni Malkin.
At one point he was just expected to miss a game with a “nagging” lower-body injury. Tuesday, coach Mike Sullivan told media that the team will be holding Malkin out for the rest of the week.
Little has been said about the nature of Malkin’s injury aside from its propensity to nag. With Tuesday’s update Sullivan shed little light, saying, “Right now, Geno is in the process of rehabbing.”
NHL.com’s Wes Crosby added that Sullivan says it’s still not considered a long-term injury, but that Malkin is not considered day-to-day.
Malkin was the Penguins’ leading scorer for most of the season, but his 23 goals and 49 points in 49 games now sit behind Crosby’s 24 goals and 54 points in 53 games.
Coach Sullivan says that Evgeni Malkin will be out for this week and will work with the #Pens training and medical staff.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 9, 2016